Japan to increase development assistance to Ethiopia

Dec 2, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Government of Japan has plans to increase the amount of financial assistance to Ethiopia for the execution of development projects in the country, the leader of the visiting Japanese Parliamentary delegation said. and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Financial Affairs said.

While holding talks with President Girma Woldegiorgis here Friday at the National Palace, Shinya Ono, who is chairman of the Japanese parliament financial affairs standing committee, said Japan was planning to double the amount of financial assistance to African countries including Ethiopia in the next three years.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, Ono has expressed acknowledgement that financial assistance granted to Ethiopia was being utilized as per cooperation agreements, a spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who attended the meeting.

On-going development projects in Ethiopia show that the country has a better future, he said, adding that members of the Japanese parliament would play their level best in encouraging the government to strengthen development assistance to Ethiopia.

President Girma said on his part the Japanese government is one of the forefront development partners of the country.

Especially, he said, the Japanese government has been providing valuable assistance to Ethiopia in the road construction sector including construction of a bridge over the Abay river.

The strengthening of the bilateral cooperation shows that the age-long bilateral ties of the two sisterly countries has now been taken to a new height.

Ono told local reporters on the occasion the re-construction of Japanese Garden on the premise of the national palace after 50 years shows that the bilateral cooperation between the two countries has gathered momentum.

Ono described the official visit of the Japanese parliamentary delegation here as a very fruitful one.

(ENA/ST)